Child & Adolescent Harmful Behaviour Service (CAHBS)

About us

This service is for children and young people in Buckinghamshire about whom there are concerns in relation to Harmful sexual behaviour (HSB).

This used to be a shared service across two counties run by Oxfordshire CAMHs. However due to changes in funding in Oxfordshire CAMHs contract from the integrated Care Board they have now closed the Oxfordshire offer and instead Buckinghamshire CAMHs has agreed to continue to provide a similar service ongoing for Buckinghamshire Children. We are in the process of recruiting staff to enable us to provide this offer.

What is Harmful Sexual Behaviour?

Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB) is developmentally inappropriate sexual behaviour displayed by children and young people which is harmful or abusive.

Children at any age display behaviours that cause concern for others. It can be difficult to talk about concerning sexual behaviour, particularly for parents who may not know who to turn to for advice. It is often difficult to know what is concerning, rather than healthy sexual behaviour.

There is evidence that the earlier young people get help, the more chance there is of preventing them engaging in further, potentially more serious behaviour. There is also evidence that getting the right support at whatever age can be helpful in recognising ongoing concerns.

Peer-on-peer sexual abuse is a form of HSB where sexual abuse takes place between children of a similar age or stage of development. We support families and professionals where there has been concerns around sibling sexual behaviour

Who we are

CAHBS will be two staff from Bucks CAMHs who support teams working with young people and their families.

We support a joint response to problematic and harmful sexual behaviour to meet the needs of the young person.

What we will do

We offer advice, consultation, and training for professionals. This includes health, education, social care, and criminal justice professionals.

Asking for help

Referrals will be made by professionals working with young people following discussion with parents, carers or young people about contacting Bucks CAMHs.

Please can you refer via our Buckinghamshire CAMHS Single Point of Access (SPA) team to support with decision making. Following the referral the SPA team will talk with professionals and the family and liaise with the Bucks CAMHS CAHBs staff to decide on what will happen next. That could include:

• offering advice and guidance
• offering ongoing support to professionals
• supporting or offering direct assessment or intervention

Useful links

There are a number of useful resources and websites you may wish to use prior to making a referral.

With some behaviours we would recommend that you use these in the first instance.

However if HSB still persists a referral may be needed. You may need to seek some informal advice around this.

NSPCC resources

NSPCC resources for keeping children safe, appropriate touch, personal space, healthy relationships and more.

Talk PANTS

Talk PANTS helps children understand their body belongs to them, and they should tell a safe adult they trust if anything makes them feel upset or worried.

• How to answer questions
• Talk Relationships
• It’s Not OK: teaching resources about positive relationships

Responding to children who display sexualised behaviour

Please use this guide to identify sexual behaviours that are developmentally typical, problematic or harmful.

Other helpful links

It’s always the right time to communicate openly and honestly with your kids

A useful resource to guide conversations and response at different developmental milestones.

Tips, advice, guides and resources to help keep your child safe online

A useful resource for supporting children’s online safety and conversations starters for parents/carers.

Guide to parental controls

A useful website on how to set controls on a variety of things as well as info on various problematic online behaviours.

Childline info and advice

Useful information and advice for supporting understanding of sex & relationships, puberty & bodies, and online & mobile safety – including ‘sexting’ and use of pornography.

Training and networking

We also offer training events through the Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (BSCB).